Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange Patil ended his five-day hunger strike after the Maharashtra government agreed to his main demand. The state will implement the Hyderabad Gazette, which officially lists Marathas in Marathwada and western Maharashtra as part of the Kunbi peasant community.
Jarange Patil also said the government will withdraw all cases filed against protesters. “We have won,” he said while accepting water from Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.
Jarange Patil Maratha Reservation Protest: Key Win
Patil had been fasting at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan to demand reservation in jobs and education for Marathas in Marathwada and western Maharashtra. After days of tension, a cabinet sub-committee met him at the protest site. Ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Manikrao Kokate, and Shivendra Raje Bhosale were present. This was the first direct discussion between the government and Patil’s team.
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Patil insisted on using the Hyderabad Gazette as proof that Marathwada Marathas were historically classified as Kunbis, a community eligible for OBC reservation. The government’s agreement to this demand is seen as a breakthrough in the agitation.
Court Steps In During Protests
The Bombay High Court criticized Patil for disturbing normal life in Mumbai. Thousands of supporters gathered at Azad Maidan, far above the 5,000-person limit allowed. Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe warned that failure to vacate by 3 pm could lead to contempt action.
Patil approached the court after the Mumbai Police refused to let the protest continue. His lawyer apologized for the trouble caused. The bench questioned why so many people came and said the situation had become “completely illegal.” Later, Patil’s supporters moved to Navi Mumbai to follow court orders.
Why the Hyderabad Gazette Matters?
The Hyderabad Gazette is a historical record showing Marathas in certain regions as Kunbis. Patil argued that this proves the reservation demand is not political but a restoration of historical identity. With the Gazette implemented, Marathas in these areas can now access OBC benefits, similar to Kunbis elsewhere in Maharashtra.
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What This Means for Maratha Reservation?
Jarange Patil’s hunger strike and the government’s approval of the Gazette mark a key moment in the Maratha quota fight. The state is showing it wants to solve this long-standing issue.
He said, “We won with your strength, today I understood the power of the poor,” while speaking to his constituency. Mumbai can now get back to its normal routine while the Maratha reservation issue is settled legally and administratively.
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